A judge has told a Falcarragh man he needs to get straight ‘A’s in his probation report when he comes before him again or he could face jail.
Manus Doohan, 19, of Ballina, appeared at Falcarragh District Court charged with a number of offences including assault and causing criminal damage.
They included striking the owner of Josie’s Bar, Josie Gallagher, and also putting a gas cylinder through the window of a taxi-rank after asking local Gardai to arrest him.
On another occasion, Doohan, the youngest of five boys, was found in a ditch by Gardai and claimed he had been the victim of a hit and run and was seriously injured.
But when Garda traveled to Letterkenny General Hospital to check on him, they discovered he had not been injured at all.
Solicitor Patsy Gallagher told the court that drink was the problem with his client but that he had been dry since last July and hadn’t gone out since.
The court was told that Doohan was facing a total of 23 charges before the court.
Judge Paul Kelly said a number of those charges related to offences which were committed on bail for other offences.
“I heard all this in April 2011 and I decided he was a young man worthy of being given an opportunity to see how things go but within a month he is engaged in assault and public order matters.
“You are building up a lot of trouble for yourelf and given numerous opportunities to adjust your behaviour but you seem determined to throw it back in our faces. You are on bail and it doesn’t seem to be changing,” said Judge Kelly.
He adjourned the matter until April 17th but warned Doohan it was his final chance.
“I am strongly considering a custodial sentence for the offence committed on bail. If his behaviour is good I might be persuaded to suspend it but depends on him getting straights A’s in his probation report and that he is doing something about alcohol,” warned the judge.
* Comments on this article are closed as the case is ongoing.